Peperomia plant named ‘EC-PEPE-1805’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Peperomia plant named ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ that is characterized by elongated obovate shaped green leaves and very short internodes.

Botanical classification: Peperomia obtusifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘EC-PEPE-1805’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPeperomia plant botanically known as Peperomia obtusifolia andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘EC-PEPE-1805’.

‘EC-PEPE-1805’ originated from the crossing of the female or seedparent, an unnamed Peperomia obtusifolia cultivar and the male or pollenparent, an unnamed Peperomia obtusifolia cultivar. The crossing wasconducted in 2015 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. The resulting seeds weresubsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ was selectedby the inventor in 2017 in a controlled environment as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a cultivated area ofSappemeer, Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ first occurredby leaf cuttings in 2017 in Sappemeer, Netherlands. Since that time,under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the newcultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newPeperomia cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-1805’. These traits in combinationdistinguish ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart fromother existing varieties of Peperomia known by the inventor.

1. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ exhibits elongated obovate shaped greenleaves.

2. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ exhibits very short internodes.

The closest comparison cultivars are Peperomia ‘Bohemian Bravour’ (notpatented) and Peperomia ‘Obtipan Bicolor’ (not patented). ‘EC-PEPE-1805’is distinguishable from ‘Bohemian Bravour’ by the followingcharacteristics:

1. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ exhibits elongated obovate shaped greenleaves. In comparison, the leaves of ‘Bohemian Bravour’ are more roundin shape.

2. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ exhibits very short internodes. Incomparison, the internodes of ‘Bohemian Bravour’ are much longer.

3. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ exhibits weaker strength internodes than theinternodes of ‘Bohemian Bravour’.

‘EC-PEPE-1805’ is distinguishable from ‘Obtipan Bicolor’ by thefollowing characteristics:

1. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ exhibits elongated obovate shaped greenleaves. In comparison, the leaves of ‘Obtipan Bicolor’ are more round inshape.

2. Peperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ exhibits green leaves. In comparison, theleaves of ‘Obtipan Bicolor’ are white and green.

‘EC-PEPE-1805’ is distinguishable from the female parent plant, by thefollowing characteristics:

1. The leaves of ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ are elongated obovate in shape. Incomparison, the leaves of the female parent plant are less elongated.

‘EC-PEPE-1805’ is distinguishable from the male parent plant by thefollowing characteristics:

1. The leaves of ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ are elongated obovate in shape. Incomparison, the leaves of the male parent plant are more elongated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofPeperomia ‘EC-PEPE-1805’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 23week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance, it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Peperomia cultivarnamed ‘EC-PEPE-1805’. Data was collected in Sappemeer, Netherlands from23 week old plants grown in a glass greenhouse in 13 cm. diametercontainers. The time of year was Winter and the temperature range was20-24 degrees Centigrade during the day and 18-21 degrees Centigrade atnight. The light level was natural light level. No photoperiodictreatments or growth retardants were used. Color determinations are inaccordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies. ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ has not been tested under all possibleconditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without anyvariance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Peperomia obtusifolia ‘EC-PEPE-1805’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ is a hybrid of the female parent, an    unnamed Peperomia obtusifolia cultivar and the male parent an    unnamed Peperomia obtusifolia cultivar.-   Plant type: Potted plant.-   Growth habit: Broad upright.-   Plant shape: Flattened globe shaped.-   Suitable container size: 7 cm. pots or larger.-   Plant height to top of foliage plane: Average 11.8 cm.-   Plant width: Average 18.2 cm.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Low temperature tolerance: 10° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 35° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Leaf cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots (summer): 10 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Time to initiate roots (winter): 14 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (summer): 80 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (winter): 100 days at 18 to 20° C.-   Crop time: Approximately 30 weeks in Sappemeer, Netherlands.-   Root system: Fibrous.-   Plant fragrance: None.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Main branches grow from base with lateral            branches.        -   Basal branching.—Yes.        -   Pinching.—Not required.        -   Number of main branches per plant.—Average 1.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—Average 2.        -   Main branch dimensions.—Average 2.5 cm. in length and            0.6 cm. in width.        -   Internode length.—0.8 cm.        -   Stem appearance.—Succulent.        -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth.        -   Stem luster.—Moderately glossy.        -   Stem pubescence.—Absent.        -   Stem angle.—Average 30 degrees from vertical.        -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Stem color (young).—144A.        -   Stem color (mature).—152A.        -   Internode color.—154D.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average 4.        -   Leaf shape.—Obovate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Flat to slightly concave.        -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse to undeeply retuse.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf dimensions.—Average 13.4 cm. in length and 5.4 cm. in            width.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, leathery (both surfaces).        -   Leaf luster upper surface.—Very glossy.        -   Leaf luster lower surface.—Glossy.        -   Pubescence.—Absent (both surfaces).        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf lobed.—Not lobed.        -   Leaf rugose.—Not rugose (both surfaces).        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, slightly furrowed.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—144A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—144A to 144B.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—NN137A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—Between 144B and 146C.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—N144C and N144D.        -   Vein color (lower surface).—147C, toward margins 145C,            toward base 175C to 175D.-   Petiole:    -   -   Petiole dimensions.—Average 1.3 cm. in length and 0.35 cm.            in diameter.        -   Petiole texture.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole luster.—Slightly glossy on both sides.        -   Petiole pubescence.—Absent.        -   Petiole strength.—Moderate.        -   Petiole color (upper side).—175A and N144B.        -   Petiole color (lower side).—175A.-   Flower: ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ has not produced flowers to date.-   Fruit and seed: ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ has not produced fruit or seed to    date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Peperomiaplant named ‘EC-PEPE-1805’ as described and illustrated.